Included: 11 nights' accommodation, 16 meals, every activity on the itinerary, all transport between destinations, your airport pick-up when you land, and a group leader with you for the whole 12 days. There are no local payments and nothing to pay on the ground.
Not included: international flights, travel insurance (which is compulsory), your Sri Lanka visa/ETA fee, and spending money for the meals that are not listed, drinks and shopping.
Because everything on the itinerary is already paid for, your spending money goes further than you would expect. Most travellers on this tour budget around £300 / $400 USD / €350 / $600 AUD for the 12 days, which covers the meals that are not included, drinks, souvenirs and any onward travel.
A Wise travel card is the easiest way to spend in Sri Lankan Rupee without your bank's exchange fees. ATMs are easy to find, but carry some cash too — plenty of smaller places do not take cards.
Groups on this tour usually run between 8 and 14 people, with a maximum of 16. Everyone is aged 18 to 40s and they come from all over the world, so the mix is different on every departure.
Most people book on their own, so if you are travelling solo you are in very good company. You will get a welcome email from your group leader around two weeks before you fly, and we will add you to a Facebook group for your departure before that so you can say hello early.
An average level of fitness is plenty. There are a few hikes on this trip — the climb to the Sigiriya Rock viewpoint and Little Adam's Peak in Ella are the two big ones — and the views make them worth it, but neither is especially strenuous and most people get up without any trouble.
Everything is optional. If you would rather sit one out and stay by the pool, just tell your guide.
The minimum age is 18. Travellers aged 16-17 are welcome, but only alongside a family member acting as their guardian for the trip.
Beyond that there is no upper limit. Groups on this tour are typically 18 to 40s and come from all over the world — what actually matters is mindset. If you are up for early starts, a couple of hikes and meeting people you have never met, you will fit right in.
Travel insurance is compulsory for all our trips. You’ll need to show proof of your policy to your group leader upon arrival (on your phone or printed). You can get a quote and purchase your travel insurance here.
No problem at all - just make sure to arrive at the hotel for the starting date of the tour! We can arrange early night’s accommodation at the hotel and airport transfer or provide easy-to-use directions for getting from the airport in Negombo to our hotel where there are many other accommodation options if you prefer to shop around for pricing.
Yes, please arrange an appointment with your local physician and explain your travel plans. Most hospitals have travel clinics with helpful information and vaccinations on site. We suggest doing this well before your trip is to begin to ensure there are no unexpected waiting periods during this process! Please visit here for more information: CDC
Of course! We encourage everyone to talk over our social networks. You can find a list of them at the bottom of this page. If you’ve joined a tour, we will send you an invite to a dedicated Facebook group made for your tour a few weeks before it starts. Your tour guide and a tour manager will also be in the group to answer any questions you may have. You can also join the General Discussion Board on Facebook!
Yes, many travellers—both male and female—travel alone throughout Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. Most group members on our trips will be solo travellers and we absolutely love it. Upon arrival, we will pick you up from the airport, you will meet your travel mates and the adventure begins.
We highly recommend that you travel with insurance for complete peace of mind. Please click here.
We recommend using a Wise travel card. It works in most places and supports Apple Pay and Google Pay. ATMs are widely available, but some places may accept cash only, so it’s good to carry some local currency.
Absolutely. Your payment is secure. Backpacking Tours is a licensed tour operator in Thailand (TAT Licence No.11/12642), and we use trusted international payment providers. Your booking is safe, and our team is here to support you every step of the way.
Your passport must have at least six months’ validity and two blank pages. You should also have proof of onward travel.
Call your group leader using the number sent in your welcome email. They will assist you.
We have an official tour operator license in every country that we operate in.
We operate our tours, unlike most other tour companies that use another agency to operate their tours.
Target Age: Our group tours are mostly aimed at 18-45
Travel Experts: We are a multi-national business based in the heart of Southeast Asia, Bangkok.
We use local tour guides with local knowledge that stay with you 24/7.
We also offer volunteer programs without admin fees and private tour bookings at honest and transparent rates.
Eleven nights in a mix of comfortable hotels and one stand-out beachfront eco retreat at Talalla, where the rooms use fans rather than air conditioning to keep the footprint down. Most of the others have air conditioning and a pool.
Rooms are twin, double or triple share. Solo travellers are always roomed with someone of the same gender, and in the occasional multi-share room we do our best to do the same. Travelling with a friend or partner? Book together, or tell us after booking, and we will keep you in the same room with the right bed set-up.
If you would rather have your own space, a private room for the whole trip is available as an optional extra at checkout.
Yes, at either end. Extra nights before or after the tour are available as an optional extra when you book, or you can add them later from your account — nights before the tour include your airport pick-up.
If you decide once you are there, tell your group leader on day 1 and they will sort out post-tour nights for you.
Vegetarians will be happy to know that Sri Lanka is very accommodating for vegetarians. Your tour guide can instruct any kitchen to create a local dish without meat. The meals will always have a vegetarian option. Please note vegan diets may not be available for some included meals.
Yes and so delicious! If you see Sri Lankan locals eating it then that’s the best indication that the food is safe. Tip: Eat where the locals eat; the longer the queue the more delicious you can assume the food will be. But as with anything, use caution. If something looks or smells suspect, better to leave it alone. And never drink from the tap! We thought we had to mention this in case the idea ever crosses your mind!
You will get to sample the best of Sri Lankan food... and it is so, so tasty. Breakfasts are typically Western dishes that you would expect to find back home. Sometimes you will have a buffet-style breakfast, and in other locations, you will have simple eggs on toast with fruit. We get that if you just need to satisfy that craving for a pizza or burger! Western food is usually available everywhere on the tour. As the tour explores different areas of Sri Lanka, you will have the opportunity to taste the various cuisine styles from around the country. Vegetarian and non-vegetarian options will also be provided.
We only sell our tour directly to you through our website, not through a travel agency, which cuts out a major expense incurred by other tour companies (and for you)! That's a win-win all around.
Your airport pick-up on day 1 is included in the price. Fly into Colombo (CMB) — it is a 20-25 minute drive to our hotel in Negombo — and once you have booked your flights, log in to your account and add your arrival details so we know when to meet you.
Arriving a day or two early? Let us know and we will still arrange your pick-up, and we can add extra nights at the tour hotel if you would like them.
The tour finishes in Mirissa on day 12, so the journey home works differently — see "What happens when my tour is complete?" for how that one works.
Colombo (CMB), Bandaranaike International Airport, for both. It is the only international airport you will need.
The tour starts in Negombo, a 20-25 minute drive from the airport, so flying in is easy. The tour finishes in Mirissa on day 12 and you head back up to Negombo for your flight home — there is a free bus laid on for that.
There is nothing scheduled on day 1, but the group meets for a welcome dinner at around 7pm, so aim to land in Colombo before mid-afternoon. Hotel check-in in Negombo is from 2pm, with earlier check-in subject to availability — if you get in before that you can leave your bags securely and use the hotel facilities.
On day 12 the free bus back to Negombo leaves Mirissa between 8am and 10.30am and arrives around midday to 2pm, so a flight from about 5pm onwards is comfortable. Flying earlier, or straight out of Mirissa? Tell us and we will work it out with you.
Arriving before the start date is no problem — we can add extra nights, with breakfast and your hotel transfer.
Yes — almost everyone needs a visa for Sri Lanka, and the easiest way to get one is the online Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), usually called the e-Visa. It is granted for 30 days with double entry, and your passport needs at least six months' validity and two blank pages.
Apply before you fly rather than at the airport. Most applications come back within 24-48 hours, but give yourself a week or two in case anything is queried. The standard tourist e-Visa fee is around US$50 for most nationalities, paid online by card.
Rules do change, so check what applies to your passport here, or read our full Sri Lanka visa guide. Any questions, just ask.
Please wait for a confirmation email; this will provide information about when we recommend arriving and to depart. We recommend using Sky Scanner to arrange your flights.
We will provide you with airport transfer information 1-week before the tour/program begins.
International flights are not included in the price of any tour and will need to be booked separately. You’re free to book your own flights or book here.
Once you’ve booked your flights, log in to the Manage My Booking area of our website and enter your flight arrival details. That is how your group leader knows when you are landing.
Arriving before the tour starts, or staying on at the end? Let us know as early as you can so we can check availability and pricing on extra nights.
Please let us know as soon as possible. If you are already en route and a connecting flight changes, contact your group leader or email us so we can still meet you at the airport.
Your deposit ensures your reservation for the tour or program. It guarantees your spot until 60 days prior to the scheduled commencement date, at which time the outstanding balance must be settled in full. Failure to complete payment by the specified deadline will result in the cancellation of your reservation, and the vacancy may be offered to another prospective participant. The remaining balance can be found in your account, and multiple reminders will be sent in advance of the due date to ensure timely payment.
For group tours, your place is confirmed once enough travellers have booked, and always at least four weeks (28 days) before your tour starts. Most group tours are confirmed around six months before departure.
For volunteer or private bookings, please allow 2-3 working days.
If a tour does not run, you get a full refund.
Yes! After placing your deposit, you can pay off the tour in installments of your choosing and at your convenience. The final remaining balance is due at least 60 days before your tour is set to begin.
Yes — please just give us at least 60 days' notice so another traveller can take your spot.
We recommend packing:
And of course the usual: passport, spending money, adventurous curiosity, positive attitude. Try to keep your bag under 20kg — you carry your own luggage between destinations.
Backpacks are preferred and will be more convenient for you but suitcases work, too. You’ll never have to carry your luggage for too long at any one time. Try to find something that’s easily accessible and waterproof if possible. And please bring a smaller daypack for short trips throughout the tour.
Yes, please! Most of our accommodation offers laundry at very reasonable prices, so there is no need to pack for every single day of the trip.
Yes, the dress code is seen as a show of respect to the culture, temple and monks that often live in the temples. Men should wear long pants and no cut-off sleeves. Women should wear trousers, a long skirt, or dress that extends fully below the knees and covers their shoulders - the knees should be fully covered. Tank tops and low cut shirts should also be avoided by both genders.
The tour ends in Mirissa on day 12. If you are flying home that day there is a free bus back up to Negombo: it leaves Mirissa between 8am and 10.30am and gets in around midday to 2pm. You are welcome to use the hotel's facilities there until it is time to go, and it is then a 20-25 minute taxi to Colombo airport, around £10 / $20 USD.
If you would rather go straight from Mirissa, a private transfer to the airport takes about 3 hours and starts at roughly £60 / $75 USD / $110 AUD.
Staying on in Sri Lanka? Your guide will help you sort out where you are heading next — onward transport, accommodation, or your next trip with us.
By private bus for the most part, plus tuk tuks in Negombo, a boat across a village lake near Sigiriya, and the train from the tea country down to Ella — one of the most scenic rail journeys anywhere, and a highlight in its own right. It is all included.
Worth knowing: Sri Lanka's roads are mostly two lanes, so a short distance on the map can take a while. We break the longer drives up with stops rather than pushing straight through.
Not at all! The deposit confirms your place on the tour. We kindly ask that you provide the remaining balance no less than 60 days before your tour begins.
Yes! This is your own time to explore Sri Lanka as you please. If you want to stay back at the hotel to relax or want to explore a bit on your own, just let your tour guide know.
The trip starts in Negombo and finishes in Mirissa.
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